North Penn School District prepares for the class of 2026

GEOFF PATTON/THE REPORTER
Montgomery Township resident Linda Smith, left looks over a calendar of school events with registrar Kimberly Van Strien at the North Penn School District office in Lansdale. Smith was in the office to register her son R.J. for kindergarten. Wednesday, February 27, 2013. Photo by Geoff Patton

Now that her son RJ is set to attend Bridle Path Elementary School in the fall, Smith is breathing a sigh of relief at the thought of freeing up some time during her day.

“People think I’m supposed to cry, but I’m excited,” she said as she sat in registrar Kim VanStrien’s office recently.

With 800 to 900 new 5-year-old faces coming into the North Penn School District per year, Van Strien is approaching her busy season.

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It’s also a crucial time in terms of planning — district officials must adjust resources such as staffing, transportation and funding according to which schools the kindergarteners will be attending.

To ensure that there will be adequate time to prepare, the district is making a push to have parents or guardians make appointments to register their children for kindergarten during the centralized kindergarten registration period, April 2-5 and April 8-9 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. (No evening appointments are available April 5.)

Registration will take place at the Educational Services Center at 401 E. Hancock St.

“It helps the district to plan and provide for the best educational opportunities for students as possible,” said Cheryl McCue, director of elementary education.

While some parents may register earlier than April, the district is asking parents to schedule their appointments during the centralized registration period in April.

Parents or guardians need to bring proof of residency, such as a utility bill, lease or agreement of sale; the child’s birth certificate — to qualify as a member of the class of 2026, the child must be five years old by Sept. 15; and immunization records.

Not only does VanStrien register kindergarteners, she also registers new students of any grade who are entering the district.

Even though the upcoming few months will be more hectic than usual, she said she’s looking forward to it.

“It’s my favorite part of my job, meeting the families and really making that connection, and letting them know their children are in good hands,” Van Strien said.

When Smith met with VanStrien, she passed along her documents and got the lowdown on how her son will start his school career.

“My oldest is 16, I have an eighth grader and RJ,” she said. “It’s been a while since I’ve done this.”

First, an information night, for parents only, will be held in late May or early June at their child’s school.

In June, parents will get a letter notifying them if their child will be in the morning session, which is 9:05 to 11:53 a.m., or the afternoon session, which is 12:47 to 3:35 p.m.

During the last week of August, the district will send out letters with their new teacher’s name, VanStrien said.

For the 13th year, the district will have its annual K-Day event over several dates in August, designed to soothe the anxiety that kindergarteners or children of any age who have never ridden a school bus (and their parents) may experience when it comes to riding the big yellow bus for the first time.

Kids and parents can explore the bus and sit in the driver seat, then they’ll have the opportunity to take a short ride around the neighborhood, followed by a video and discussion on bus safety.

Smith said RJ is eager to take the bus, but he won’t be doing so for a while.

“We live across the street, so we walk to school,” she said.

While grades 1-12 will have their first day of class Sept. 3, that day will be orientation for kindergarteners and their parents.

Teachers will schedule small groups of kids and their parents from each class to come in for an hour or so, check out the classroom, have snacks and meet each other before their big day — the first day of school — on Sept. 4.

She gave Smith a list of skills for him to work on before school starts, developed by Marisa Neeson, the district’s preschool outreach coordinator.

“He’ll love it,” VanStrien told Smith. “The girls can do it with him.”

Neeson not only comes up with packets of prep work for all of the would-be kindergarteners, she also works with the nonprofit preschools within the district to make sure they’re being exposed to the material they’ll be learning and using kindergarten — identifying shapes, developing listening skills and learning how to follow directions, for example.

Wrapping up her appointment with Smith, VanStrien told her he’ll be in good hands at Bridle Path.

“He’s in,” Van Strien said. “It’s official.”

Parents can register their child for kindergarten by visiting npenn.org or by calling (215) 853-1097.